We pay too much attention to what people say, and how they act, rather than what they do imo.
Pettersson had every chance to leave here. He never caused a fuss behind the scenes (Dhaliwal). He delayed re-signing here, and that was the first indication of uncertainty. Franchise players in his position sign in their first offseason of eligibility (generally). But then, he re-signs for max term. That commitment should trump every other narrative. It absolutely destroys some outright.
Pettersson does NOT want a fresh start from Vancouver, imo. He wants a fresh start from Miller.
Pettersson's first indication? No.
The first indication goes back to the signing of his second contract. Wanting to play on a winning team and in the playoffs.
This time the team was going well at the time and the team threatening a trade may have swayed him AND that group was pretty damn good and looking like they could have been kept together, then some trades and change in Tocchet's system to a more defensive team.
There could also have been promises of a future trade if things didn't go good.
His contract places expectations on him for performance but like SO MANY posters were on Miller's "humanity" and "personal issues should be ignored" well what about Pettersson then?
Maybe he just can't play under Tocchet's system but he triesbut he has never, ever been a "boards guy" in his hockey life`. He didn't get to be 5th overall by being Tocchet.
There was WAY more in Miller's absence than "just personal"?
The room has an issue and those that were on EP's side are gone, the star Euro's always played different hockey than the dump and pray systems with very few exceptions.
Any trade of Miller or Pettersson might look like a Canuck loss at first. When Benning traded for OEL that didn't look like an Arizona win but look now, Guenther is making that trade look pretty good now.
There is just too much smoke for there not to be a fire.